President Obiang Urges Unity and Solidarity in Africa

AUChairman Stresses the Need to Further Strengthen the Continent's Youth

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a speech which called on all Africans to work together to solve problems facing the continent, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, addressed leaders from Africa's 54 nations and around the world. President Obiang, who is also chairman of the African Union, told member countries that even though they are "often exposed to pressures created by external nations," they must work together to strengthen the resolve and influence of the union.

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea continues to host leaders from across the African continent and around the world at the 17th African Union Summit in Malabo. Following the theme "Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development," the conference held a Symposium on Youth Employment, organized by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Department of Social Affairs and other institutions. The conference's goal is to highlight the steps recommended by the African Youth Forum held in Addis Ababa on the African Union Summit held earlier this year.

Building upon the theme of strengthening youth to foster positive growth on the continent, President Obiang stressed in his speech to the delegations, that the Union must invest in its young people to build the capacity of the continent. In such, President Obiang proposed hosting the new headquarters of an African Union Voluntary Youth Corp in Equatorial Guinea's new Sipopo development project.

The African Union Voluntary Youth Corp would work expeditiously to address development deficiencies and to overcome the limitations of Africa's leadership evolution and transition among the continents growing youth population.

President Obiang stressed the need for young people to play an active part in the betterment of the entire continent. The involvement of youth in the institutions of government, the economy and culture must be embraced.

Regarding the Arab Spring, "with revolutions claiming their rights against regimes in power," President Obiang said, "these claims cannot be considered as an negative force of youth, when the claims are just and necessary."

"The African Union Summit should be a new starting point that drives Africans together and strengthens the Union," concluded Obiang. This can only be achieved "through the unity of Africa and solidarity of African governments and their people."

President Obiang also participated in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), at the 25th Orientation Committee of Heads of State and Government.

Heads of State and of Government continued to the 15th meeting of the forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) led by the Ethiopian Prime Minister and Chairman of the Forum of the APRM, as well as Jean Ping, Chairman of the African Union Commission.